Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-02-09
TARIFF REVISION.
LETTER ON THE SUBJECT By Mr.. RAN
DALI AND OTHERS.
A Compromise Measure to Suit All Parties
Discussed at Length-The Various
Changes Suggested and
Their Effect.
Br telegraph to tho plspatch.

WASHINGTON, February S.-There
was sent to Speaker Carlisle to-day
long letter signed by Representatives
Randall, Warner. Henley, and McAdoo,
in response to his communication re-
turning the substitute bill presented
for the consideration of himself and
those holding similar views respecting
tariff revision. The letter says: The
gentlemen present at our recent confer
once representing the States South,
West, and North were led to hope
that q way had been finally opened
for an agreement on a measure
that could be generally supported
ty our political friends, and we sincerely
regret, in view Of the importance Of the
adoption by this Congress of some
measure that would materially reduce
the revenues and prevent the further
accumulation Of treasury surplus, that
differences so wide as appear in your
communication should still exist. 1t
was hoped that basis of compromise
could be reached without requiring of
any one a sacrifice of principle or of
convictions entertained on the sub
icct of the tariff and internal taxes.
TO do this it is evident that
these things, respecting which radical
differences exist in the minds of men,
must be excluded from a bill intended
as a compromise measure. 1t was be-
| lieved that there could be found room
inside of these limits for an agreement
on a list Of articles TO be RENTED to
| the free list, as well as upon many on
which the tariff could be reduced,
thereby affecting material reduction
Of the revenues without injuring or en-
dsDgering any important industries or
| impairing the earnings of labor in this
country.
1t is believed yet that such a mea-
sure ought to be agreed upon and
carried through the House at this SEES
| sion.
As TO the items in the proposed bill
On which il is claimed that an increase
in the tariff would result we have to
say that the apparent increase arises in
most instances from change from the
ad raJ0rcm to specific duties, made in
accordance with recommendation from
the Treasury Department. The prin-
ciral object in making the duties spe-
| cific where they are now nd UdiOrCBl IS
To prevent the deception and dishonC sty
| practiced by under valuation; and while
i'll fixing what is deemed to be fair
specific equivalents an apparent in
| crease may arise, it is believed
TO be apparent only and not real
However, on all these matters,
inasmuch as the proposed bill is
| not intended to be a revision Of the
tariff, but bill for the reduction Of
The revenues and the correction Of GER
tain inequalities only, We think there
will be no difficulty in agreeing either
to strike ont of the bill such articles, or
10 reduce the proposed rates so as to in
sure no increase iii the actual duties IN
any case A careful examination the
| list shows. we think, that except as to a
very few articles you are in error in the
statement that the duty is increased.
Certain of the things which you
ask to be placed on the free list, as pro
POSED in the Morrison bill, raise the
vital questions which haye heretofore
prevented harmonious action on the
tariff question, as many of MS believe
that such a step, if carried to its logical
conclusion, would be destructive of very
many Of eur most important agricul-
tural as well as mechanical industries,
and as We are i'll this matter represent
ing not only our own convictions, but
the interest of the people We represent,
we could not, of course, make this con-
cession, and we did not expect to be
asked to make it.
In striking from the proposed COM
| promise measure a repeal OF the tobacco
tax, the tax on fruit-brandies, the alco-
hol used in the arts, weiss-beer, and
the alternative proposition to reduce
the tax on all distilled spirits from ninety
cents to sixty cents per gallon You elimi-
nate from the bill all propositions to
reduce internal-revcnue taxes except
the retail-license provision, and this
YOU do not in terms agree to.
In lieu of these provisions in our bill
you propose to repeal all the statutes
mrCeiug restrictions upon the sale OF
leaf tobacco by farmers and TO modify
the laws relating TO storckeepcrs and
gaugers at the small distilleries and the
destruction Of stills; also, to modify
the administrative features of the. law
relating to the issue of warrants, etc.
While to all these proposed modiiica-
tions of the present law we readily as
sent. We do not see in them alone how
the revenue is to be reduced.
Cur object in the matter of internal
taxes is two-fold. First, TO reduce the
revenue; and, second, to relieve the
people of vexatious and inquisitorial
| methods of taxation, and to do this
without Offering temptations to fraud
or to evasions of the law. Fur
thermore, in proposing the abo-
htion or reduction OF internal-revenue
taxes, we believe we are acting in har-
mony with the principles and declara-
tons Of the Democratic national plat
form. The internal-rcvenue tax in that
platform is declared to be a war tax
and repeal of crushing war taxes is
demanded 1t has moreover been the
policy Of our Government, after each
war, to abandon this form of taxation,
first as evincedunderthe Administration
| of Jefferson and jackson, and tax
| that requires an armed force TO execute
| it can never be popular in free coun-
| try.
Your demand that if the repeal OF
the tobacco tax or other internal taxes,
in whole or in part, is insisted upon by
us. then you and those acting with you
will insist that in the same
bill an equal amount OF reduction
in the revenues derived from customs
shall be made if it is presented; other
wise the debatable ground for a compro-
mise seems to us to forestall such action
by your further demand that reduc-
ton in the tariff shall be made upon
such articles only rs those with
whom you are acting shall IN
dictate. This is equivalent TO say
ing at the outset that those holding
different views from your own and the
views of those acting with you shall be
precluded from having any voice IN de-
termining what things the duties shall